Teter doesn't totter, on halfpipe or during gold-medal news conference

By CLARE FARNSWORTH, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, February 13, 2006

BARDONECCHIA, Italy -- What could Hannah Teter possibly do for an encore to her gold-medal performance in the halfpipe?

Talk it about, as only this free-spirited 19-year-old snowboarder can.

Near the end of her news conference Monday, Teter was reminded there was time for only a few more questions because she and the other medalists -- fellow American Gretchen Bleiler and Norway's Kjersti Buaas -- had an appointment with a drug tester.

"We're going to pee in cups, guys," Teter said, leaning into the microphone.

Teter, who led a 1-2-4 U.S. finish that matched the performance by the American men Sunday, puts the full-recline in laid back.

Here's a sampling of how it went when she faced the world as an Olympic gold medalist for the first time (with ample sass accompanying each response):

A: "There are so many things that can be done, I don't know. Hang it on the wall? Is that a good thing to do with it? I don't know. I'm probably going to put it in our playhouse in Vermont. I have all my old medals there. I'll staple it on the wall. With a real staple gun."

Q: Do you have a trick that you have yet to use in competition?

A: "You will never know."

Q: What is the secret to your success?

A: "Maple syrup. Vermont maple syrup."

Asked to answer the same question Bleiler was about skipping the X Games to concentrate on the Olympics, Teter pointed to her teammate and whispered, "Ditto."

Teter expressed herself just as creatively -- and even more eloquently -- on the course.

Entering the finals in third behind 2002 gold medalist Kelly Clark and Bleiler, Teter moved into first with her first run and then turned in the run of her young life on the second trip down the pipe to earn a score of 46.6.

Here's how it went, from behind Teter's goggles and with Strive Roots' "Communication" blaring on her iPod:

"I dropped in into a 'Front-side five,' which is just spins -- 1 1/2 rotations. Then I went to a 'Front-side nine,' which is like 2 1/2 rotations. Then I went into a 'Backside Indy.' I tried to pull up my board and grab it, like my brother Abe does. And then, I went to a 'Front-side three' and into a 'Cab five.' "

That collection of twists, turns and other gyrations -- completed with extreme speed and ample air -- proved golden.

It also left Teter, Bleiler and Clark staring at the expected American sweep, until Buaas posted a 42.0 on her final run to take over second place. Bleiler responded with a 43.4 to reclaim second, but Clark fell on the fourth move of her final run to slip to fourth.

All of this took place after Teter, Bleiler and U.S. coach Ricky Bauer sneaked away for a little power shredding between the two qualifying runs and the two runs in the finals.

The trio got to the top of the mountain, only to find that the entire mountain was blocked off. But they still needed a powder break to release the tension that had turned Bleiler into a screaming wreck, so they ducked under a rope for a few quick runs.

"I was a mess today. Absolutely a mess," Bleiler said. "I've been screaming uncontrollably the last three days. I get so nervous."

How could Bleiler possibly get uptight in the presence of the unflappable Teter?

"When she gets up there (at the top of the run), she's a lot more serious and a lot more professional than she is down here," Bleiler said.